Chapter 18: Extorting the Zhang Family

"Zhang Qian pays his respects to Your Highness."

"Your subordinate Zhang Kang pays his respects to Your Highness."

The guest hall of the Prince's Mansion.

Zhang Qian and Zhang Kang bowed to Zhao Xu.

Nodding slightly, Zhao Xu lazily gestured for them to rise, deliberately putting on a sorrowful expression, "I wonder what business brings you two here?"

Zhang Kang and Zhang Qian exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves that although the assassination had failed, it seemed to have shaken the Yan Wang quite badly, and they couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

Then, they feigned concern: "Your subordinate just returned from Fanyang yesterday. I intended to visit Your Highness that same day, but was delayed by official duties. Hearing that assassins raided the Prince's Mansion last night, my brother and I came specifically to check on Your Highness. Now that Your Highness is safe, my brother and I can rest easy."

Zhao Xu sneered inwardly, thinking that they likely knew better than anyone else how he was faring.

But he understood that he could not expose them yet. Seeing the mastermind who plotted to kill him right before his eyes, he grew angry and cursed, "Let's not speak of it. Those people who wanted to kill me are nothing more than beasts. Don't you agree?"

Zhang Qian and Zhang Kang's expressions stiffened.

They laughed awkwardly and chimed in, "Yes, yes."

Zhao Xu nodded, "I accept your kindness in coming to see me, but I am physically and mentally exhausted from this affair and cannot entertain you both."

This was already an order for them to leave.

Zhang Qian and Zhang Kang had come under false pretenses; their true goal was merely Zhang Rang.

After hesitating, Zhang Qian thickened his skin and said, "Your Highness has been startled, and I should not have disturbed you further, but my son Zhang Rang was detained by Your Highness at the Prince's Mansion yesterday. I hope Your Highness will show mercy and release him."

Zhao Xu knew full well that Zhang Qian had come for this very reason.

He continued his act, appearing as if he had just remembered.

"So Zhang Rang is the son of Member of the Gentry Zhang."

"He is indeed my unworthy son." Zhang Qian lowered his body even further.

He had only one son, Zhang Rang. If the Yan Wang were not in Yan Commandery,

killing someone would be a trivial matter.

But since he had fallen into the hands of the Yan Wang, the matter could be either small or large.

"This is difficult," Zhao Xu frowned, "Zhang Rang committed murder right before my eyes, and everyone saw it. If I just let Zhang Rang go like this, how am I to answer to the people of Yan Commandery?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kang and Zhang Qian both thought that things had gone wrong; the Yan Wang seemed not to care at all about the influence their Zhang Family held in Yan Commandery.

It was true.

In just a few short days, the Yan Prince Mansion had acquired a Personal Army, which was far from the state of having nothing when Zhang Han was there.

Thinking of this, their hearts tightened.

Zhao Xu noticed their expressions and deliberately intimidated them, "Those who kill without cause must die; this is the law of the Great Song. You two may rest assured, I will leave his body intact for burial."

"You cannot, Your Highness!" Zhang Qian was startled.

He finally realized that the Yan Wang he had looked down upon was not someone he could control.

For the first time, he felt that he could not do whatever he pleased in Yan Commandery.

This made him feel both uncomfortable and angry.

Zhang Kang was also anxious. His eyes darted around as he decided to test Zhao Xu's character, so he said, "Your Highness, it is merely a songstress, why be so serious? Our Zhang Family is the wealthiest in Yan Commandery, with countless treasures and Beauties in our home. If Your Highness likes them, we can give them all to you in exchange for my nephew's life."

"Oh?" Zhao Xu put on a greedy face, then instantly returned to normal, sighing, "It is difficult... the reputation of the Yan Prince Mansion..."

Zhang Qian and Zhang Kang smiled at each other.

It seemed this Yan Wang could not escape the temptation of money and Beauties.

Since that was the case, it would be easy to handle.

Zhang Qian said, "I am willing to offer ten thousand taels of silver for Your Highness to renovate the Prince's Mansion."

Zhao Xu heard this, turned around, and began to walk away, "I think it is better to just pick a day for the execution."

"Your Highness, wait!" Zhang Qian was scared out of his wits.

He cursed inwardly that this Yan Wang was even greedier than he was.

Enduring the pain of losing his wealth, he held up ten fingers: "One hundred thousand taels of silver."

"

"It seems your son's life is not even worth an Ice-making Technique," Zhao Xu said indifferently.

Zhang Qian's face twisted, "I will add sixty thousand mu of fertile land. If Your Highness still refuses, my Zhang Family in Yan Commandery is not to be trifled with."

"Hahaha..." Zhao Xu laughed.

He had just been employing a strategy of extreme pressure, and the effect had been achieved.

However, since Zhang Qian had threatened him so blatantly, he did not want to back down either, and said coldly, "My Personal Army is not for show, and the Imperial Clan of the Great Song is not a mere decoration."

Zhang Qian was stunned, his tone softening as he said, "I hope Your Highness will show mercy."

"Very well, send the items over, and Zhang Rang's life may be spared. However, while the death penalty can be avoided, he cannot escape punishment; have him transferred to the Government Office for detention," Zhao Xu waved his hand.

Zhang Qian was not satisfied and wanted to say more, but was stopped by Zhang Kang, "Thank you for your grace, Your Highness. As soon as the items are delivered, I will take Zhang Rang to the Prefecture Office Prison."

Zhao Xu nodded, then said sternly, "Also, what are the County Soldiers of Yancheng doing? With so many bandits entering the city, they did not notice a thing. Who is the Prefecture Military Commandant of Yan Commandery?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, it is Huang Gang, the eldest son of the Huang Family," Zhang Kang's heart sank.

This time, they had truly tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.

Sure enough, Zhao Xu said, "He is truly a piece of trash. With him in that position, the Prince's Mansion will never have a peaceful day. Strip him of his post and let the Personal Army commander, Chang Wei, take over."

"This..." Zhang Kang was extremely unwilling, but did not know how to argue.

After all, they had originally intended to strike a decisive blow and eliminate the Yan Prince Mansion.

They had never considered this loophole.

"What? Does my command not carry weight in Yan Commandery? Do not forget, Yan Commandery is my fief, and the Prince's word is everything," Zhao Xu said sternly.

"Yes, Your Highness," Zhang Kang replied reluctantly.

Seeing that staying any longer would only be asking for trouble.

The two of them took their leave and exited the Yan Prince Mansion.

Upon returning to the Zhang Family, Zhang Qian picked up a vase in the study, intending to smash it.

But thinking of how he would lose a large sum of Silver again, he slowly put it down and said angrily, "When has my Zhang Family ever been bullied like this?"

Zhang Kang remained silent; he was also infuriated this time.

Not to mention the Zhang Family's one hundred thousand taels of Silver and sixty thousand mu of fertile land.

Losing the vital position of Prefecture Military Commandant of the Yan County Garrison was also a major loss.

Because this meant that from now on, the Yan Prince Mansion held the military power of Yancheng.

And because the Rich Clans of Yan Commandery all had their landholdings outside the city.

Their Fortresses were also built outside the city, where their private soldiers were stationed.

Now, with the Prince's Personal Guards added to the Yan County Garrison.

Inside the city, their influence had completely lost to the Yan Prince Mansion.

"Three months, just three more months," Zhang Qian muttered in resentment, "In three more months, I will make the Yan Prince Mansion vanish into dust."

Zhang Kang nodded slightly and said, "This matter should be planned in secret starting now to ensure nothing goes wrong when the time comes."

Zhang Qian clenched his fists and said viciously, "The Yan Prince Mansion will not have a second chance."

Remembering something, he said, "Right, go immediately and investigate who leaked the news of the assassination; once found, kill them without mercy."

"Rest assured, elder brother. Anyone who dares to oppose our Zhang Family will surely be left without a burial ground," Zhang Kang's eyes narrowed.

The two of them plotted for a while longer.

Zhang Kang departed.

Zhang Qian then had his servants carry the Silver and take the land deeds to the Yan Prince Mansion.

He would provide the Silver, and the Yan Prince Mansion would transfer Zhang Rang to the Prefecture Office Prison.

This was their deal.

With the prestige of the Zhang Family, no one would dare do anything to Zhang Rang in the Prefecture Office Prison.

And after waiting a few more months, once Yan Wang died, Zhang Rang would be able to come out.

Before long, carts after carts headed toward the Yan Prince Mansion.

Zhang Rang was brought out and taken toward the Prefecture Office Prison.

At this moment, under a willow tree a hundred meters away from the street of the Yan Prince Mansion.

An old farmer carrying a load of vegetables glanced toward this side.

He stood up and left in a hurry.